Body Tempering Ninth Layer, Movement Technique Proficiency

The Martial Exam was imminent.

Chen Yu rarely went out now, spending every day cultivating.

With the help of the Dragon-Tiger Elixir and the terrifying digestion and absorption abilities of [Gluttonous Factor (Blue)], Chen Yu's progress increased by the day.

Furthermore, now that Thunder Extreme Saber had reached the Perfected Stage, he had begun focusing on the movement technique Misty Step.

Chen Yu was not the only one.

With the Martial Exam approaching, the entire River City seemed to have fallen into an atmosphere of tension. From time to time, Martial Dao students could be seen frowning as they intensified their training.

Sharpening the spear before battle might not make it faster, but it would still make it shine.

Hao Xi, Zhao Tianyi, and the other River City geniuses were also cultivating day and night, preparing to wash away their humiliation in the Martial Exam.

The entire River City seemed to have been swept up in a feverish wave of cultivation.

At the edge of River City, within a picturesque mountain villa.

At this moment, Martial Dao geniuses from the Imperial Capital, Upper River, and Huaying had gathered there.

There were not many of them, only sixteen in total, but every one of them possessed at least the strength of the Body Tempering Eighth Layer.

After all, stealing Martial Exam slots from other regions was not something that could be openly discussed. If they went too far, unforeseen complications might arise.

There were only a dozen or so slots. Even if the matter blew up, the higher-ups could simply turn a blind eye.

Naturally, they understood how to strike that balance.

Crimson Radiance Star had nearly a hundred regions, so the number of people assigned to each region was not particularly large.

At this moment, the sixteen people were clearly divided into three factions: the Imperial Capital, Upper River, and Huaying.

Yu Guihong, the leader of the Imperial Capital faction, looked at Wang Zhe and Mi Ya from Upper River and Huaying and said in a low voice,

"Everyone, don't forget our purpose. We're here to secure enrollment slots at the Three Elite Universities in the River City region."

"So, just suppress those troublesome River City locals a little. Don't take things too far."

Wang Zhe folded his arms and looked at Yu Guihong's self-important posture with obvious displeasure.

"Just worry about yourself."

"Who was it that had one of his men suffer a defeat? And you still have the nerve to lecture us?"

As soon as those words fell, Pan Wei's expression darkened behind Yu Guihong.

Yu Guihong's face sank slightly as he explained, "You should understand that Pan Wei lost to the Martial Madman from River City Seventh High School..."

Before he could finish, Mi Ya interrupted him. "A loss is a loss. There's no need to make excuses."

"I've also heard of Chen Yu from Die Xiaoxiao. He's only somewhat stronger than ordinary Body Tempering Eighth Layer Martial Artists because of some other talents."

"The urgent question is, who will deal with Chen Yu during the Martial Exam?"

"He carries some weight in River City. If he gathers the local geniuses to cause trouble during the Martial Exam, it will affect our control over the rankings."

Their purpose in coming to River City was to secure some of the enrollment slots at the Three Elite Universities.

That would inevitably infringe upon the interests of River City's local geniuses.

After all, there were only so many slots. If they took some, then some River City Martial Artists would be unable to attend the Three Elite Universities.

Wang Zhe propped both feet on the table and rested his hands behind his head.

"Since the problem came from the Imperial Capital side, Yu Guihong should naturally handle it during the Martial Exam. Consider it a chance to make up for his failure."

"I'll naturally resolve this matter, but it isn't about making up for anything." Yu Guihong looked displeased, but he still accepted the task.

He then looked at the crowd and reminded them again, "We came here for the Martial Exam and for the slots at the Three Elite Universities."

"With the Martial Exam so close, I hope none of you create any more trouble for us."

"Whoever causes trouble, I'll personally step in and kick them out of River City's game."

This time, Wang Zhe and Mi Ya did not challenge him. They agreed with that point as well.

The enrollment slots at the Three Elite Universities were the top priority.

Everything else, including the Martial Madman Chen Yu, was unimportant.

Time flew by.

There were only two days left until the Martial Exam.

"Ha—!"

His chest suddenly expanded as a massive breath filled his lungs, the entire process lasting nearly half a minute.

Then, after another long half-minute exhale, Chen Yu slowly opened his eyes.

"Finally, the Body Tempering Ninth Layer!"

Feeling the power radiating from his body, he casually threw a punch, bringing a whistling gale with it.

Crack! Crack!

Chen Yu could not help stretching, and his spine immediately erupted with firecracker-like pops.

"At the limit of the Body Tempering Realm, pure punching power should cap out at around ten tons, while sprinting speed should reach fifty meters per second."

"But those are Body Tempering Peak figures. At my current Body Tempering Ninth Layer, my punching limit should be around eight tons, while my speed should be around forty meters per second."

"That's only pure physical strength. If martial arts are included, my instantaneous burst can increase considerably further."

Chen Yu silently estimated his strength.

This world was one where Martial Dao flourished to the extreme, even surpassing technology in destructive power.

Even the lowest Body Tempering Realm could grant a terrifying increase in a Martial Artist's combat strength.

Not to mention the Blood Exchange Realm above it, where blood qi became like a dragon and extended hundreds of meters. Wherever the Blood-Qi Lock covered became a Martial Artist's Domain.

The Aperture Opening Realm went even further, opening the body's Stellar Apertures and completely unleashing human potential.

With the body as the universe and apertures as stars, one could draw in Star-Origin Force. Every gesture could possess destructive power comparable to a hypersonic missile.

Flying through the skies and burrowing through the earth would be effortless.

And those were only the first three realms.

"True cosmic powerhouses roam the vast universe in their flesh, pluck stars with one hand, and live in true freedom!"

Just thinking of such power made Chen Yu's heart boil.

However, to reach that step, what he needed most was to leave Crimson Radiance Star and truly enter the forces of the starry skies.

The next moment, Chen Yu stepped forward, his figure instantly seeming to turn into drifting mist as he floated through the air.

As a breeze passed by, he drifted with the wind like a feather, gliding through the air with nothing to support him.

Misty Drift Step—Proficient Stage.

It was not only his Martial Dao realm that had broken through. A day earlier, Chen Yu's movement technique had also made tremendous progress, officially entering the Proficient Stage.

"But Proficient Stage seems to be the limit."

"To bring a martial art to the Perfected Stage requires extremely high talent. A Green-Quality Talent only barely seems sufficient; only a Purple Talent offers any real assurance."

By now, Chen Yu had gained a new understanding of the Perfected Stage of martial arts.

Martial arts proficiency meant that one had already learned everything a martial art contained. There was no road ahead.

Yet true geniuses could combine it with their own strengths and forcibly carve out a path even where none existed.

That was what was known as the Perfected Stage of martial arts.

If Chen Yu had not possessed the [Blade Technique Grandmaster] talent, along with a bit of luck from an Epiphany, it would have been difficult for him to deduce Thunder Extreme Saber to the Perfected Stage.

As for deducing Misty Drift Step to the Perfected Stage as well?

That would be difficult.

Even with a Cyan Quality movement talent, it would take roughly a year, perhaps even requiring the luck of an Epiphany.

"Forget it. It's already enough."

Chen Yu glanced at his current System Panel:

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Name: Chen Yu

Realm: Body Tempering Ninth Layer

Martial Arts: Star-Treading Stance, Misty Step (Proficient Stage), Thunder Extreme Saber (Perfected Stage), Blood Battle Nine Transformations

Talents: [Persistence], [Blade Technique Grandmaster (Purple)], [Martial Dao A-grade Bone (Green)], [Movement Prodigy (Green)]
[Fortune's Blessing (Green)], [Keen Perception (Blue)], [Gluttonous Factor (Blue)], [Exceptional Memory (Yellow)], [Thought Imprint (Yellow)]

Talent Forging: None

Expansion Function: (Activation Requirement: Copy three Cyan Quality Talents, 0/3)

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"I hope the Martial Dao geniuses from the Imperial Capital, Upper River, and Huaying don't disappoint me." Chen Yu smiled.

It would be even better if he could raise a Cyan Quality Talent to Purple.

It was a little difficult, but people had to hold on to their dreams.